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Education & Schools

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Officials from universities nationwide are getting set for a wave of military veterans going back to college after wars abroad and defense budget cuts.

A three-day conference titled "Success for Student Veterans" begins Friday at the University of South Carolina to discuss ways academia can help the new vets with the transition.

Tens of thousands of new veterans are expected to return to college or the workforce in the next several years as the military downsizes after wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and as the Pentagon budget is pared back.

The director of Veteran Services at the University of South Florida, Lawrence Braue, is one of several participating experts and is exhorting universities to help veterans make the leap from the military to life on a college campus.

The College of Southern Nevada is getting national recognition for its efforts to educate firefighters.

The National Fire Academy and the U.S. Fire Administration recognized the college for its Fire Science Technology program. CSN is one of only 25 institutions around the country to receive the honor.

The recognition is similar to being accredited. It means the school has met the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education standards. CSN now offers a six-course model fire science curriculum. Students who graduate will get a NFA achievement certificate.

“This is a mark of respect for CSN and future fire services’ graduates. There is no higher honor,” Greg Gammon, Director of Fire Science and Emergency Management said. “Our program is among the most relevant in the nation in preparing top-notch future fire and safety leadership.”

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Schools in military communities and near tribal lands will receive $60 million less than expected this year. College students will earn $51 million less in federal work study programs.

These cuts are part of the Department of Education's plan to implement across-the-board spending cuts, called the sequester. The plan was released Monday.

Areas where large slices of land are owned or managed by the government, such as military or tribal areas, receive more than $1 billion in federal aid annually to make up for the lack of land subject to property tax. Under the automatic budget cuts, that sum is being slashed about 5 percent, as expected.

The mandatory cuts also reduce by 5 percent the aid for college students who work in libraries, cafeterias or elsewhere in campus.

A magazine dedicated to helping military personnel transition into civilian life has named UNLV a Military Friendly School for the third straight year.

G.I Jobs Magazine looked at more than 12,000 colleges, universities and trade schools around the country. The list only honored the top 15 percent of schools.

The list of military friendly schools highlights institutions that put a priority on recruiting students with military experience, offer scholarships, have a veterans' club and include military credits.

According to UNLV, an estimated 1,1000 students at the university are either veterans or active duty military members. The school has a dedicated Office of Veterans Services which helps veterans, active duty and spouses find their way through any academic or administrative issue. The office also helps students process their G.I. Bill applications.

A new technology lab was dedicated Wednesday at the College of Southern Nevada.

The new JT3 Technology Lab is located in the Morse Arberry Jr. Telecommunications Building at the Cheyenne Campus, and it is where CSN is training an educated and tech-savvy workforce for our country's defense industry.

JT3, a Nevada-based, electronics defense contractor, provided the college with a $50,000 gift to build the lab. The company provides engineering and technical support to four of the western test ranges for the U.S. Air Force and Navy.

JT3 has people on the ground at Nellis Air Force Base to make sure all the systems, including electronics, radar, and tracking, are working. It allows pilots in training the most realistic environment.

"We basically support the war fighter in preparing for the next generation of aircraft and tactics across California, Nevada, Utah, and the ranges," vice president of JT3 Dan Wild said.